From 1 January 2015 new European Regulations came into force regarding existing Environmental Stewardship Schemes. This entails all ELS/UELS/ OELS and HLS agreement holders to submit an annual claim form to Natural England by 15 May each year for the remainder of your agreement. Further information will be sent to each agreement holder in March this year with details of how to make your annual claim; this will be a separate claim to your Basic Payment Scheme submission. It is vital that your claim is received by Natural England prior to the 15 May as there will be a reduction in your payment of 1% per working day until 9 June. Any claim submitted after 9 June will receive no payment for that year. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Pat Cotterill at the Tow Law office.